The sex offender registry is a system created by the United States Department of Justice, that keeps track of convicted sexual “predators” in order to keep the public safe. Registration depends on a conviction of a crime that could be perceived as sexual in nature, as well as the degree of the crime. However, not all those who are registered committed an actual violent sexual assault.

Consider, for example, an evening when you ate some bad crab at Captain D’s and, while driving home on 17, you suddenly had intense abdominal cramps and had to pull over to relieve yourself. If someone saw you on the side of the road and reported it to the authorities, the incident could be construed as public nudity and could cause you to have to register as a sex offender, even though there were no sexual intentions involved.

Actions That Could Result in Mandatory Sex Offender Registration

Although the registry is mainly to keep track of violent or sexual deviants and abusers, sometimes other less harmful actions can still brand you as a sex offender. Here are a few convictions that can lead to registration.

Multiple “sexting” offenses: Sending or receiving obscene content in the form of SMS text messages)

Multiple accounts of public nudity or sexual indiscretion: Having sexual relations, urinating, or displaying vulgar or sexually explicit actions in areas where you may be seen by the public

Sexual relationship between young adults and teenagers, if the age between them is greater than 1,060 days

Second conviction for prostitution

Child molestation or sexual abuse: When any sexual contact was made between an adult and a child

Rape or sexual abuse: Any type of unwanted, contested, or nonconsensual sexual contact, whether violent or not, with another person

Bestiality: Any type of sexual contact or actions with an animal

Incest: Sexual relations with a blood relative. In some cases, relations between people related through adoption or through marriage can also be considered as incest.

Once you’re convicted and made to register as a sex offender, you’ll be forced to adhere to all of the rules, restrictions, regulations, and societal shame that comes with the status.

If you’re not guilty of the crime in which you were convicted, being branded as an offender isn’t merely unjust, but it’s potentially life-threatening; not only could the consequences ruin your quality of life, but some sexual offenders have been known to be violently beaten and killed by paranoid and suspicious citizens, even when they weren’t threatening. Being known as a sex offender was enough to condemn them.

This is why it is extremely important to make sure you have proper representation when you’re accused of a sex crime you didn’t commit. A good defense starts with the experience and knowledge of a good lawyer.

At Tavss Fletcher, we’ll make sure justice is upheld. Contact us today to discuss your case, review your options, and see how we can help you maintain your innocence.

Do you know someone who has been accused of a sex crime and needs help proving his defense? Share this page with him via email, Facebook message, or Twitter, so he knows the importance of hiring an experienced attorney. Don’t let him be unjustly convicted of a crime; share this knowledge to help him protect himself against a life-altering conviction.